House gives 'paycheck protection' bill initial OK

Mar. 13, 2013

Eric Burlison

Written by

JEFFERSON CITY — About 14 hours after a late-night Senate filibuster on so-called paycheck protection legislation ended, the House gave initial approval to a more aggressive version sponsored by a local lawmaker.

The House voted 93-62 to perfect House Bill 64, sponsored by Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield. The vote occurred after the bill was amended to include first responders, a move Burlison said Monday would happen.

Paycheck protection, as supporters call it, prohibits union dues from being used for political purposes without worker permission. The bill the Senate gave early approval to early Tuesday morning applies only to public employees, but Burlison’s bill applies to both public and private workers.

Most of the House debate revolved around an amendment offered by Rep. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, to include first responders in the legislation.

The change was driven by what Burlison calls “coercion” of Kansas City police officers. Burlison’s office said it received an email that was sent to the entire police force on Feb. 14 stating that officers would be required to join the Fraternal Order of Police as a condition of employment or pay a service and representation fee.

Sean McCauley, an attorney representing the Fraternal Order of Police, has previously said the union is only charging non-members for fees associated with the collective bargaining process. Under the agreement ratified in January, police officers who are union members have to pay a $450 annual fee.

Rep. Mike Colona, D-St. Louis, said Brattin’s amendment and the bill in general would create a freeloading situation where workers are able to benefit from the union’s representation without giving back their share. Colona, who is a lawyer, compared the situation to billing a client.

Other Democrats called the bill an attack on workers. During a contentious exchange with Burlison, Rep. Jeff Roorda, D-Barnhart, said Burlison should be ashamed of himself.

“I’m a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and a proud one, and I take offense to the nonsense we’re dealing with here on the floor, the attack on heroes, the war on heroes you’re the general of,” Roorda said.

Republicans argued the legislation is needed to protect worker freedom. Burlison, speaking on his bill, said the measure is intended to hold unions more accountable to their members.

Brattin said the bill and amendment make sure worker money is used appropriately.

“This is just making sure people’s money goes where they want it to go to,” Brattin said.

After about an hour and a half of debate, Republicans used a procedural maneuver to end debate and force a vote.

That was far less time than the Senate spent on its paycheck protection bill Monday night and Tuesday morning. Democrats began a filibuster a little after 6 p.m. that lasted without stopping until about 2 a.m.

The filibuster came to an end once a substitute bill was introduced that was less odious to Democrats. Provisions that would have allowed workers to grant deductions to any political action committee was removed. Under the bill that was given approval, workers may choose whether or not to donate to the political action committee of their union, but cannot choose to have the deduction go elsewhere.